Super Mario Odyssey is an upcoming platform game for the Nintendo Switch set to release on October 27, 2017.[9] It is the sixteenth title in the Super Mario series, the seventh original 3D Mario title, the eighth 3D Mario title overall, and the sixth 3D Mario title on a home console after Super Mario 3D World. The game revolves around Mario exploring unknown open world-like settings, similar to Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. These settings have been stated to bear resemblances to locations in the real world[10].

The game's story will involve Mario and a ghost wearing a top hat named Cappy preventing a forced marriage of Princess Peach to Bowser, while also rescuing Tiara, Cappy's sister.[2][11]

A Super Mario Odyssey themed Nintendo Switch bundle will also be available on launch day. The American and European versions will contain the console, red Joy-Cons and a download code for the game. The American version will also include an Odyssey-themed carrying case. The Oceanian version of the bundle will include the console, red Joy-Cons and a physical copy of the game.[11][12]

Gameplay

Unlike recent 3D titles such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D World, which were more focused on platforming, Super Mario Odyssey will return to the explorative open-world gameplay seen in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, where Mario will explore various areas in order to collect Power Moons. Mario will maintain his moveset from previous 3D titles, including the Long Jump, Roll, Ground Pound, Spin Jump, the Triple Jump and the Dive, the last of which hasn't appeared since Super Mario Sunshine. In addition, a new character called Cappy allies with Mario, and takes possession of his cap. Mario can throw Cappy as if he were a boomerang, and it can also "capture" certain objects and enemies to take control of them.

Mario's life meter also returns with three health, similar to Super Mario Galaxy. Additionally, there does not appear to be any lives, as Mario will instead lose ten Coins upon dying. There will also be a new amiibo line based on Super Mario Odyssey, with a formal Mario, Princess Peach, and Bowser, which will unlock more costumes. Other lines are also confirmed to be compatible, revealing a Power Moon location on the map. Some amiibo will also unlock costumes.[13]

Unlike Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, the game will not have a central hub world. Mario will use the Odyssey airship to fly from kingdom to kingdom.[14]

Co-op mode is also confirmed, with player one controlling Mario and player two controlling Cappy.[15]

The coins that Mario collects serve as currency. There are 2 types of coins - global yellow coins, which can be found and used in any kingdom, and purple regional coins, which are different in every kingdom, and can only be used in the kingdom they were found in. Mario can spend his coins at the Crazy Cap stores.

The game features a "Snapshot Mode", where players can pause the game and take pictures using the Nintendo Switch's button. Players are also able to alter the shot by zooming in and out, tilting the camera for a vertical shot, or apply one of several filters, ranging from blurring the surroundings, adding a sepia tone, changing the camera to a fish-eye lens, or applying an NES-styled color scheme.

Available in Bubblaine. The wetsuit is white with blue, horizontal stripes. An orange tube surrounds Mario's waist, and orange flippers replace his boots. The outfit appeared in a 2016 Club Nintendo calendar[61].

Kingdoms

Currently, there are ten known named locations, as well as one unconfirmed tropical jungle-like location, that Mario can explore, situated in what are known as "kingdoms"[20]. Each kingdom has a specific theme, some similar to previous Super Mario titles, others being original themes for said titles. Each location will be based on a real-world location (e.g. Metro Kingdom's main area, New Donk City, is based on "New York City"). Bowser will be after various items in each of the kingdoms, which all tie to his preparations for his wedding.

Development

Official infograph showing the recognized difference between the progression-oriented, and the more sandbox-exploration style of the 3D Super Mario series. Or as put by Miyamoto, "casual" and "core" games. Super Mario Odyssey is considered to be the latter.

As part of the "Treehouse Live" event on January 13, 2017, Shigeru Miyamoto was hosted as a special guest, and interviewed for the Super Mario Odyssey segment.[79] When asked about "coming home" to the Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine style of gameplay, Miyamoto explained that when he was developing Super Mario 64 with Yoshiaki Koizumi, they realized that the title would be more directed towards the "core gamer", rather than the casual, pick-up-and-go gamer. After Super Mario Sunshine, their focus reshifted to more accessible, casual gamers, hence encouraging them to make Super Mario Galaxy.

Then in recent years, we made Super Mario 3D World and even though that's a 3D game, it's a little more accessible to everybody. And so speaking of casual gamers, we have Super Mario Maker out, and we also have Super Mario Run. So when we thought about making a Mario for Switch, we wanted to make it [...] something a little bit more on the core side, that people who like action games can really get into.

Miyamoto discussed how the 3D camera in Super Mario 64 worked very well, as it had the joystick as well as the C buttons to adjust the automatic camera. Super Mario Sunshine had the C stick in order to "control the camera freely", although they received feedback that the camera control was "a little bit difficult". With later 3D titles such as Super Mario Galaxy, the minimal control of the camera also attracted some negative feedback. Miyamoto added that it's "very difficult to find the right balance".

With Super Mario Odyssey, we made sure that the camera controls are really really smooth and easy to use, and the Switch controllers can really serve to that. [We] really made a sandbox-style game that's really easy and feels good to control.

With all the different ideas that Miyamoto received from other, "younger" developers and programmers, some actually worried him about how well Mario would "fit in" to these different worlds, although he was "open minded" to all ideas that were presented. Miyamoto also sought more senior developers and staff teams who had been involved in past 3D Mario titles, such as Yoshiaki Koizumi, in order to really "go back to the roots" of Super Mario Sunshine.

Vocal Theme: Jump Up, Super Star!

A unique aspect of this title is a vocal main theme, sung by Pauline.[80][81] The song is big-band jazz style, and details an adventure across the worlds from this game, with Pauline referring to herself as Mario's "1-Up Girl".

References to other games

Donkey Kong: The location New Donk City looks to be a throwback to Mario's early origins as Jumpman. There are steel girders that resemble the ones seen in this game, and the taxi cabs have license plates reading "1981-ND", referencing the year Mario and Donkey Kong made their debut. The name New Donk City is also a reference to Donkey Kong himself. Pauline can also be found here, who originated from this game. The melody from the 25m theme can be heard halfway through the vocal theme song. The bassist can also be heard playing the 25m theme when Mario first finds him.[82] Also, the sound effect played when Mario jumps over a barrel in the game can be heard at the end of the aforementioned riff.[83] In an 8-bit segment using sprites from this game in New Donk City, Mario must dodge barrels while climbing girders. Oil Drums also appear, along with Coins spelling out "DK".[11]

Super Mario Bros.: Several parts of the game allow Mario to walk within walls from a 2D perspective, uses sprites and sound effects from that game, as well as altering the stage music to an 8-bit variation.

Super Mario Bros. 3: The music that plays in the slots minigame room is an arrangement of the minigame music from this game.[84] The sound effect that plays when using a rocket flower is the sound effect that plays when the P Meter is full in this game.[11]

Qix: The Sombrero and Poncho originates from the Game Boy version of this game.

Super Mario Land: Mario traverses through several kingdoms, similarly to how he explored the four kingdoms of Sarasaland. Several enemies of the Sand Kingdom resemble enemies from this game. One notable enemy is the Moe-Eye, with glasses similar to the Moai statues found in the Easton Kingdom.

Super Mario World: A piano remix of this game's overworld and underwater themes can be heard on radios in New Donk City.[85] When controlled by Mario, Moe-Eye sometimes hums the game's ending theme while walking around with its sunglasses on.[86] Sprites of Fuzzies from this game are used when Fuzzies appear in 8-bit segments.[11]

Mario Paint: One of Mario's outfits is an artist outfit that was used in this game's artwork.[11]

Mario's Picross: The Explorer Hat and Explorer Outfit originates from this game.

Super Mario 64: The structure of the kingdoms in Odyssey carry-over what was established in 64, such as the lack of a time limit and having areas change each time the player visits them, based on what the player previously completed. Super Mario Odyssey is considered a spiritual successor to both Super Mario 64 and Sunshine. Mario relies on a Health Meter rather than Mushrooms. 64 first introduced utilizing variations of Mario's Cap as power-ups. The number on Mario's football jersey is "64". There is a minigame involving foot racing Koopa Troopas, much like with Koopa the Quick. Mario can jump into some paintings in specific kingdoms to get to other kingdoms.[11]

Super Mario Sunshine: Super Mario Odyssey is the first 3D main series game since Super Mario Sunshine to feature open sandbox-style levels, as well as Mario's Dive move. Additionally, Mario can once again sidle while grabbing on a ledge. Mario retains his Spin Jump move as well. Some areas feature platforming challenges without the aid of Cappy, similarly to how some of the secret courses in this game had to be beaten without the assistance of F.L.U.D.D. [87]

Super Mario 3D World: Some of the elements and sound effects are reused in this game. Cat Mario's Costume Mario sprite from Super Mario Maker can be seen on the side of one of the skyscrapers in New Donk City, a building in Tostarena, and a pillar in the Mt. Volbono region;[89] and Cat Peach's sprite can be seen behind the right black-colored wall in the New Donk City Auditorium.[90] Captain Toad's design in Super Mario Odyssey was first introduced in this game.

Super Mario Maker: The Builder Helmet and Builder Outfit originate from this game. A sprite of Costume Mario's Cat Mario costume can be seen on the side of one of the skyscrapers in New Donk City and a building in Tostarena[91][28], and a sprite of the Cat Peach costume can be seen behind the right black-colored wall in the New Donk City Hall Auditorium[88].

^Simplified Chinese version of the logo can be found in the HK website by clicking a button on the upper right corner on the main page, which changes the site's language to Simplified Chinese. It can then be pressed again to switch back to Traditional Chinese.